Move Down Front

We all know the story of Rosa Parks and her refusal to move her tired feet one more step to the back of the bus. So I’m not going to repeat it here. But what I will do is take a moment to acknowledge how easy it is to grow accustomed to being in the back that when opportunities to hit the front arise, they’re missed.

Usually I sit at the back or on the sides of large gatherings for many reasons but mainly – kids and bathroom. I have my children with me probably 85% of most things that I do so I’m constantly wrangling, shushing and entertaining while trying to glean experiences (church, meetings, dinner, etc). As for the bathroom, well I have two kids, and my moms out there you already know what carrying babies in your body does to one’s bladder, so there’s that.

Last week I attended a leadership and entrepreneurs’ conference. I didn’t have my kids with me; I’d avoided having a lot to drink for the morning so I decided to move up in the room. Not to the front but certainly closer than my usual perch. One of the other attendees looked at me and said, “I’m going to the front. Come on.” I was hesitant, but really there was nothing holding me back except fear, fear of being seen; fear of being held responsible for the view and things that I learned there down front.

Mind you, I’ve always been a bit skeptical of people that show up places late demanding a seat in the front. I’m thinking what makes you so special to head down there late, but maybe I should be asking the other way, why are there still open seats in the front? Shouldn’t we all want to be closer to the flames? Don’t we all deserve an opportunity and access? What does it say about us when we don’t move down front?

On that day, moving down front was just the start of moving outside of my comfort zone. As a result of taking multiple steps different than my normal path, I was rewarded at a greater level than I’d ever experienced. So today I want to you to make a decision to move down front. Is there an area of life where you’ve been sitting in the back for far too long? Drop a comment below. It’s time to move down front in 2018.

Just 10 Minutes to Boost Your Business Savvy

The holidays are focused a lot on gift giving. Why not give the give of improvement to yourself? Whether you are a homemaker, a corporate employee or an entrepreneur, there are ways that you can improve taking care of your business. In just 10 minutes per day, you can become better than you were yesterday. Here are a few suggestions:

1.       Read a white paper, journal, article or blog on your area

2.       Identify new goals and compose an action plan

3.       Connect with a mentor in the field

4.       Enroll in a course

What ways do you stay up on your game in your area of service?

Setting Client Expectations & Boundaries

Working for a corporation there are already rules in place for how business is done. However, in working for self, you are the one responsible for setting said rules. As an entrepreneur, setting clear expectations and boundaries with clients is the primary way to eliminate misunderstandings and stress. This is something that I have struggled with in the past, especially if the client was a friend or family member. I thought it would be great to share what I’ve learned thus far.

1.       Set expectations up front. It is very important that you speak with your clients about their expectations of you. Likewise, you should share your expectations of them as a client. These expectations should cover things like when and how you will communicate. Your expectations should also include payment terms and deadlines. Setting these expectations up front will mitigate the challenges that arise with uncommunicated and unmet expectations.

2.       Define a beginning and end. When setting up your work with a client, it is important that you identify a specific beginning and ending. We will begin the project on specific date. The project will be considered complete on a specific date or once specific deliverable has been completed. Doing this eliminates lingering projects and frees up your time for additional project work later.

3.       Use the word “No”. Somehow, we have gained the notion that saying no in business is bad. We over extend ourselves or commit to things that we really had no interest in or business doing in the first place. Many times the frustrations that come with our client interactions could have been avoided altogether with a simple no. 

4.       Accept that you may not be able to work with everyone. Yes, you want to help your cousin. Yes, your cousin needs the help. No, you may not be the best source of assistance for your cousin. Be okay with knowing that your family and friends may not be your clients. Also recognize that you are not for everyone and everyone is not for you. Recognizing this helps you to stay in your lane and keep your personal relationships intact.

I will admit, these did not come easy or quickly for me. In fact, I continue to evolve in these areas. I have to define what the boundaries are that serve the contexts of my work and desired outcomes. What I have realized is that I offer better customer service and have more productive outcomes for my clients when the boundaries and expectations are clear.

How do you set expectations and boundaries with your clients?